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What would you guys rather have?

vintagelubbr

vintagelubbr

Certified Clown
What would you guys rather have?

A perfectly working Rabco SL8E linear toneram or an Infintiy Black Widow tonearm?

I ask because a buddy has both and is willing to give me one (no turntable included) in exchange for work on his motorcycle. Which would you guys pick?
 
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My preference would be for the SL8E...but ONLY if it is "perfectly working". They can be a PITA otherwise.
 
oldenuff said:
My preference would be for the SL8E...but ONLY if it is "perfectly working". They can be a PITA otherwise.
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That might be sufficient reason to go with the Infinity. The SL8E might become problematic down the road even if it's not now. :dunno:

Plus, the Black Widow is so cool looking!

John
 
I'd think about what cart you would be using with it. The Infinity will need a high compliance cart.

I don't know the Rabco, but if it is working correctly why would it cause problems later? Maybe your buddy would let you try each before you decide?
 
Take the Black Widow. I have a Rabco with tracking issues, and it seems the rubber tracking roller is unobtanium.
 
rcspkramp said:
Infinity, the SL-8e won't be perfectly working for long.
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Hmmm...don't think I could agree with that, if the arm is working as it should, then I have not found them to be unusually problematic. Yes... people (some that I know) have had their share of problems, but these problems were generally inherited with the purchase of abused/neglected or poorly modded arms... These are excellent arms that relieve the owner of many of the associated draw-backs of conventional arms. I regret selling my last one, but I didn't at the time have a t/t to put it on, a friend had more of a need for it and still enjoys it.
 
I've owned both versions of the Black Widow and liked them. My present TTs are mostly linear trackers, I must have at least 8 of those around here along with a few regular TTs.
If you are fixing a motorcycle then I assume you are mechanically 'handy' and competent. Therefore the RABCO would have greater interest and if you 'do' electrical you should have no problems.
Frontload yourself on it here; http://www.soundfountain.com/amb/ttrabco.html
 
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FWIW, the RABCO SL-8 was the first marketed servo-correcting linear tracking arm and the result of a well-respected seminal study on the distortions and other problems of pivoted arms by J. Rabinow and E. Codier.
 
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Which cartridge would be a good "affordable" candidate for the Infinity Black Widow tone arm?

How about the AUDIO-TECHNICA AT-150MLX ?

Is it still in production ? :scratch2:
 
DL-160 is out of production, the next logical step would be the O'fon MC-3 HOMC which I use in a Souther SLA-3 low-mass LT arm.
 
Balifly said:
Which cartridge would be a good "affordable" candidate for the Infinity Black Widow tone arm?

How about the AUDIO-TECHNICA AT-150MLX ?

Is it still in production ? :scratch2:
Click to expand...


:yes: Sounds great together even though the 150 is at the weight limit of the BW.



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Steve
 
Given the choice, I'd probably try the linear tracking tonearm. I used a Beogram TX-2 for years (linear tracker) and its performance was superb, hands down the best tracker I ever owned.

That Black Widow looks nice too..... tough choice!
 
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